Epidemiology of mumps and control strategy in Yangshuo, Guangxi, 2004-2011

Objective understand the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Yangshuo and provide evidence for the development of control strategy. Methods The average annual increase rate calculation, incidence tendency analysis, 2 test for sample rate comparison, relative risk calculation and central tendency analysis of the disease were conducted. Results A total of 659 mumps cases occurred in Yangshuo from 2004 to 2011 with the average incidence of 29.26/lakh. The incidence increased since 2004 and peaked in 2008 (92.25/lakh). The epidemic of mumps occurred periodically. The disease occurred all the year round but with obvious seasonality. The incidence of the disease peaked on 24 June during summer (3 April-14 September) or on 12 November during winter (11 September-11 January). The cases were mainly distributed in children aged 4-14 years. The incidence in rural area was higher than in urban area. Outbreak of the disease occurred occasionally in primary schools in rural area. The incidence of mumps declined as the mumps vaccination coverage increased. Conclusion The goal to control or reduce the incidence substantially could not be reached by the current mumps immunization strategy, it is necessary to revise the mumps vaccination schedule and strengthen the check of vaccination certificate to increase the mumps vaccination coverage in children.